Prospective association of sugar-sweetened and artificially sweetened beverage intake with risk of hypertension

Background. - Several observational studies have suggested that high consumption of sugar sweetened beverages (SSBs) and artificially sweetened beverages (ASBs) is associated with increased blood pressure, but this relationship has not been investigated comprehensively. Aims. - To quantitatively examine the association between sugar-sweetened and artificially sweetened beverage intake and risk of hypertension. Methods. - We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of eligible prospective cohort studies, identified by searching PubMed, Embase and Web of Science databases up to May 2015. Pooled relative risks (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (Cis) were calculated using a random effects model, and generalized least-squares trend estimation was used to assess dose-response relationships. Results. - Six studies (246,822 subjects and 80,628 incident cases of hypertension) were identified for the meta-analysis of SSBs and hypertension. The pooled RR of hypertension in the highest category of SSB consumption (>1 serving/day, mean) compared with the lowest category of SSB (<0.6 serving/month, mean) was 1.12 (95%CI: 1.07, 1.17). In a dose-response analysis, a 1 serving/day increase in SSB intake was associated with an 8% increased risk of hypertension (RR: 1.08, 95% CI: 1.06, 1.11). Four studies (227,254 subjects and 78,177 incident cases of hypertension) were included in the meta-analysis of ASBs and hypertension. The pooled RRs were 1.14 (95% CI: 1.10, 1.18) for highest versus lowest analysis and 1.09 (95% CI: 1.06, 1.11) for every additional 1 serving/day increase in ASB consumption. The positive association did not vary significantly by sex, duration of follow-up or adjustment for body mass index. Conclusions. - Our findings indicate that high SSB and ASB consumption is associated with an increased risk of hypertension. (C) 2015 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.